MONTGOMERY MESSENGER

The Newsletter of the Residents of Montgomery Place Retirement Community 5550 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60637 April 2016, Vol. 26, No. 4

JACKIE R OBINSON D AY . . . All Star, to be the 1949 National League batting AND WENDELL S MITH champion, to play for the 1955 World Series n Friday, April 15, many major league champions, to be National League stolen base O players will be wearing the leader twice, and to be a member of the Major number 42 in League Baseball All-Century team. Jackie honor of Jackie Robinson was inducted into the National Robinson’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 on the first breaking the ballot in his first year on the ballot. color barrier in Major League Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1919, Baseball on that the youngest of five children in a sharecropper day in 1947. family. When the family later moved to Pasadena, California, he attended Muir High Branch Rickey, School, Pasadena Junior College, and UCLA, general manager where he was an outstanding athlete in football, of the Brooklyn basketball, track, and baseball. He served in the Dodgers, hired Jackie Robinson, no. 42 US Army as a second lieutenant during WWII, Robinson as eventually playing in the Negro Leagues after second baseman his discharge. on the condition that Robinson agree to calmly “turn the other cheek” to the racial insults that In retirement, Jackie Robinson was a TV would follow his debut as the first African- analyst, and then vice president of Chock Full American player in American baseball. O’Nuts Coffee, an unusual position for a black Robinson agreed, and played so well that he man at that time. He was active in the civil was named Major League Baseball Rookie of rights movement and served on the board of the the Year that year. NAACP, founded the Freedom National Bank of Harlem, and established the Jackie Robinson Robinson’s joining the Dodgers ended the racial Construction Co. to provide housing for low- segregation that had kept black baseball players income families. out of the Major Leagues since the 1880s. He famously played for the Dodgers from 1947 to But wait—there’s a Montgomery Place 1956. Robinson went on to be named a six-time connection to this story. Who suggested Jackie continued p. 2 page 2 APRIL 2016

Jackie Robinson from p. 1 Robinson’s name to Branch Rickey? None In 1993, Wendell Smith became the first other than the African-American recipient of the J. G. Spink Pittsburgh Award for meritorious baseball writing. His Courier sports- w i d o w , writer, Wendell Wyonella, Smith, husband accepted the of our present award and resident donated his Wyonella papers to the Smith. Baseball Hall of Fame’s At age 19, archives, Wendell was a providing Wendell Smith, sportswriter promising research pitcher who material on had been told integration in by a Detroit Tigers scout that he would like baseball. to sign Smith but could not, because he did not have the authority to hire a black man. In 2014, Smith Wyonella Smith posthumously After Smith graduated from West Virginia received sports journalism’s . State College, he pursued his sportswriting Barbara Wilson career with the Courier covering the Negro Leagues, and he hoped he could help to remove the barriers that denied black players entry into professional sports. In the years that followed, Smith helped to organize tryouts for black players. NEW Y ORKER R EADERS he New Yorker Readers will meet on After the Dodgers signed Robinson, they T Saturday, April 16, at 2 p.m. in the asked Smith to accompany him on the road, LLLC. The article because the team stayed in segregated to be discussed is hotels. Smith did this throughout the 1946 “The New Koch— and 1947 seasons, to offer support and the Rebranding of counsel. The 2013 movie 42, about Jackie the Billionaire Robinson’s career, shows Wendell Smith’s Brothers,” by Jane contributions in detail. Mayer. Bill Barron will lead the Smith eventually came to Chicago to work discussion. The for the white-owned Chicago Herald article is in the American, and in 1948 he was voted into January 25 issue. If you need a copy of the the Baseball Writers’ Association of article, please call me at 4647. America, the first African American Dorothy Scheff, Chair, New Yorker Readers accepted. Smith joined WGN in 1964 as a TV sportscaster. He died in 1972, just a month after Jackie Robinson’s death. APRIL 2016 page 3

Mandel Hall for Wolf’s Italian Serenade in G OUT AND A BOUT Major; Janáček’s Quartet No. 1, Kreutzer Sonata ; and Beethoven’s Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1, Razumovsky. Tickets required. ♦ Friday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m. the bus will go to Symphony Center for a CSO B Series concert. ♦ Wednesday, April 13, at 9:45 a.m. the bus will Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki conjures go to the Art Institute for Van Gogh’s famous Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade , represented bedrooms. Tickets required. by a dazzling solo violin. The violin takes center stage again as Gil Shaham plays Bartók’s folksy ♦ Friday, April 15, at noon the bus will go for Violin Concerto No. 2. Debussy’s Gigues , based lunch to Moon Palace, an Asian cuisine restaurant. on the well-known English sailor’s chorus The Keel Row , rounds out this colorful program. ♦ Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m. the bus will go Tickets required. to the Met Live in HD to see Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux featuring soprano Sondra Radvanovsky ♦ Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m. the bus will go as Queen Elizabeth I, forced to sign the death to the Met Live in HD with Puccini’s opera warrant of the nobleman she loves.Tenor Matthew Madama Butterfly directed by Gary Halvorson Polenzani plays Devereux. Tickets required. with Kristine Opolais as Butterfly and Roberto Alagna as Lt. B. F. Pinkerton. Tickets required. ♦ Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m. the bus will go to the South Shore Cultural Center for the Winter ♦ Tuesday, April 5, at 11:50 a.m. the bus will Quartet in an All Access concert that includes go to the Lutheran School of Theology at Raimi’s Duo for Violin and Viola, Schnittke’s Chicago for an organ concert. Free. String Quartet No. 3, and Beethoven’s String Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131. Free, but ♦ Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. the bus will go to tickets required; see Concierge Dino for tickets. Mandel Hall for the Artemis Quartet. The peerless performers from Germany bring their ♦ Wednesday, April 20, at 1 p.m. the bus will go new member, Chicago native Anthea Kreston, to to the U of C Service League to hear Joanne Dill speak about “The Chicago River: Turbulent History and Recent Renewal.” Free.

CONTRIBUTORS THIS I SSUE ♦ Friday, April 22, at 12:30 p.m. the bus will go to Symphony Center where Riccardo Muti Editor: Carma Forgie conducts two dramatic Tchaikovsky overtures Contributors: Laurieann Chutis, Alex Elwyn, inspired by two of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Carma Forgie, Paula Givan, Phil Hefner, Kyoko Inoue, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest . Completing Leah Kadden, Evi Levin, Gerry Martin, Muriel the concert is Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Rogers, Dorothy Scheff, Marilyn Weigensberg, featuring soprano Rosa Feola. Tickets required. Barbara Wilson, Anne Zeidman Staff Contributors: Sheila Bogen, ♦ Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m. the bus will go to Chaplain Julianne Buenting Logan center for the Pacifica Quartet. Mozart’s Artwork: Nate Kalichman Quartet in G Major, the first of the Haydn Layout: Carolyn Allen Quartets , was dedicated to the composer’s friend Production: Dino Celik and mentor. The Shostakovich Quartet No. 11 is Proofreader: Phil Hefner dedicated to the second violinist of the Beethoven Calendars: Carma Forgie, Barbara Wilson Quartet. The massive Beethoven Quartet in Editor Next Month: Evi Levin

continued on p. 4 page 4 APRIL 2016

Out & About, continued from p. 3 MUSINGS FROM S HEILA C-sharp minor concludes the concert. Tickets required. he long winter months are finally receding, T and signs of spring are vying for our attention. ♦ Tuesday, April 26, at 11 a.m. the bus will go New life is evident in the parks, on the sidewalks, to the Loop stopping coming and going at the and especially on the trees. The magnificent pink Cultural Center and Water Tower Place. Free. and white blossoms always fill me with joy, and the wonder of renewal fills me with awe. ♦ Saturday, April 30, at 11 a.m. the bus will go to the Met Live in HD with Richard Strauss to Montgomery Place is also enjoying the new see Elektra. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts. season; the new chillers for the air conditioning Tickets required. system will soon be installed. Keep an eye out for Carma Forgie a big crane and heavy-duty equipment, but don’t be alarmed; the installation shouldn’t take long.

PASSOVER 2016 The canopy over our front door is due to be ost years we have the celebrations of the replaced. We plan to add our full street address to M Jewish holy days of Passover and the avoid the confusion first-time visitors may Christian Holy Week and Easter Sunday close on experience. In addition, I am sure you will be the calendar. Not so in 2016, since Lent and delighted to learn that we have requested bids on Easter were early this year in the Christian an illuminated sign to be mounted on the lawn calendar. The 50 days of the Easter season began adjacent to the parking garage entrance. The sign on March 27 and conclude with Pentecost on will indicate that the entrance to the building is Sunday, May 15. located around the corner.

Passover begins almost a month after Easter, on I would like to commend both residents and staff the evening of April 22, and continues until April for the way everyone came together during our 30. Passover offers a rich commemoration of the Dining Room flood. Residents were so gracious Jewish people’s exodus from enslavement in about being served meals in the East Room and Egypt, with seder meals telling the story, sharing Lounge, and the entire staff pulled together to foods that commemorate aspects of the story, and ensure the best possible outcome. Special thanks to having an extra glass of wine ready for the great Barbara Harrison, president of the Residents’ prophet Elijah, should he pop in to join the Association, who organized an appreciation lunch festivities. Our annual community seder, on for the staff. The atmosphere at the event was just Wednesday, April 27, at 4 p.m. in the Dining amazing, as staff and residents expressed gratitude Room, is hospitable and inclusive, an to one another. opportunity for all to share in the celebration. On behalf of Fred Saviano, CFO, and me, thanks to We will welcome a guest speaker from Unity Mike McGarry, president of the Board of Hospice to our Coffee, Tea, and Death (with the Directors, and his entire board, for their guidance Vicar) series. The topic will be “Palliative Care and sage advice during this time of transition. We and Hospice Care: What’s the Difference?” The appreciate their vote of confidence in us. And my date for this event will be determined shortly. I thanks to all the residents who have expressed their hope you can join us and will find the support for our efforts in running Montgomery information helpful. Peace and blessings to all! Place day to day. We are here for you—please let us know if we can assist you in any way. Chaplain Julianne Buenting Sheila Bogen, Director of Operations/Administrator APRIL 2016 page 5

For the past 14 years, Kim has been married to NEW A RRIVALS Barbara, a real estate agent here in Hyde Park.

McKim Marriott —he likes to be called Kim For his 90th birthday, Kim was honored with a —has moved into apartment 908 (phone 4600). Festschrift at the Smart Museum. The volume He arrived at Montgomery Place on December includes contributions from Kim’s talented 16, 2015, and then had several bad falls which grandchildren plus dedications and essays from necessitated prolonged stays on the second floor. some of his colleagues and students from Canada, Germany, Israel, India, and New Zealand, as well Kim is professor emeritus of anthropology at the as from professors of universities in Minnesota, University of Chicago. He was also professor of Chicago, Brandeis, Appalachian State, and Alaska. social sciences in the College and known most for his and his many students’ studies of Hindus We welcome Kim Marriott and hope he will enjoy in rural India. He has also been concerned with our many interesting community activities! indigenous sociologies and psychologies of Evi Levin Japan and many other societies.

Fascinated since childhood by the cultures of East Asia, he crammed written Japanese to translate military messages, which he had to do from India. At the end of the Pacific war, India was still part of the British Empire and closed to most Americans.

As soon as Kim was released from the Army at the end of World War II, he went back to academia, applied to and was accepted by the U of C to start studies for a PhD in anthropology which, as a rare exception, included all requirements for a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Kim had finished high school language requirements in Latin, French, and German, and later completed field training in India of the Hindi, Urdu, Braj, and Marathi languages.

With fellowships from the Rockefeller and Ford Nescafé Alegria moved into the Café/Library Foundations, Kim was able to pursue fieldwork (no phone, sorry) on February 26, 2016. You’ve in the Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra states of probably already made the acquaintance of the India (with his family of four in tow), and by Alegria, but if not, stop by absolutely any time! mathematical modeling, graphing, and classroom Unlike most new arrivals, the Alegria doesn’t game simulations to test their results. His work sleep, shower, or talk on the phone. Instead, at the pursues the assumption that every independent touch of a button, it makes and dispenses eight human society has its system of categories and different hot drinks for residents and their guests, logics, and that there may thus be many new 24 hours a day, every day! useful social sciences waiting to be found. The eight drinks are: Kim’s son and three daughters were all born and ♦ Black coffee raised in Chicago; three of them still live here. ♦ Black decaffeinated coffee continued on p. 6 page 6 APRIL 2016

New Arrivals from p. 5

♦ Espresso (strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee) ♦ Cappuccino (coffee made with nonfat sweetened milk that has been foamed with pressurized steam; contains about 6.5 grams of sugar) ♦ Decaffeinated cappuccino ♦ Latte (coffee made with espresso and steamed nonfat sweetened milk; contains about 6.5 grams of sugar) FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKERS ♦ Mocha (steamed nonfat sweetened milk he Friday Night Speakers programs start at 7 with Nescafe Danish chocolate and espresso; T p.m. in the East Room and usually run for contains about 11 grams of sugar) one hour. Everyone is invited to attend the ♦ Hot chocolate (nonfat sweetened milk and programs. The schedule for April features four Nescafe Danish chocolate; contains about 12 outstanding speakers, and there may be a fifth. grams of sugar) ♦`April 1, John Mearsheimer, political science, Note that all the milk used in the drinks is U of C, “US Middle East Policy: One Disaster sweetened with sugar. Half-and-half and various after Another.” Presenter, Alex Elwyn. sweeteners are provided for your individual ♦`April 8, Jason Riggle, linguistics, U of C, doctoring. topic to be announced. Presenter, Lauriann Chutis. The Alegria replaces the urns from which coffee ♦ April 15, Andrew Long, physics, U of C, was previously dispensed. Because it is “Dark Matter Demystified.” Presenter, Alex connected to the water supply and heats the Elwyn. water when it makes a drink, it solves the ♦ April 22, Mark Swanson, Islamic studies, problems of coffee running out and getting cold Lutheran School of Theology, “Islam around the during the day. World.” Presenter, Phil Hefner. ♦ April 29, to be determined. The Alegria can be a trifle persnickety. It can’t cope with a cup that is taller than the supplied 8- Audience questions and discussion follow each ounce cups, or multiple cups stacked up. presentation. (Sleeves to protect your fingers are provided so Phil Hefner for the Friday Night Speakers Committee you won’t be tempted to stack multiple cups.)

Human intervention is required to load coffee, milk, and chocolate; the waitstaff is doing that at regular intervals, but if the machine should ever tell you it’s out of something, just tell the waitstaff or, at night, the security officer at the Concierge Desk and they’ll take care of it. And…enjoy! Paula Givan, Chair, Dining Committee APRIL 2016 page 7

HEWSON S WIFT C ONCERTS DEEP DOWN here are four Wednesdays in April when With gratitude to Gerard Manley Hopkins. T residents can attend concerts on CDs or DVDs in There's a deep-downness in things, the Lounge at 7 p.m. We will A cantus firmus that undergirds the whole. hear the following variety of We lift our voices and it rings music, presented by our Through the years, the very soul residents from their interesting CD/DVD collections: Of what enables us through the toll ♦ April 6, Stephanie Butler will present a Of our days to journey on. Whatever DVD of Herbert von Karajan conducting the The path, the boulder we must roll Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Becomes a labor of hope that may waver, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The DVD was recorded in 1984. But in its rugged climb bestows a favor, ♦ April 13, Judith Hansen presents An Reveals a worth and a meaning Evening at the French Ballet with music from That despite our fears will not sever Delibes’s Coppelia and Sylvia , Adam’s Itself from us. It is like a gleaning. Giselle , and Gounod’s Faust . ♦ April 20, Ed Krentz will introduce Franz The days provide scraps of dreaming. Liszt: Concertos 1 and 2 plus Totentanz played Even when we fear the sun will never break by the Dresdner Philharmonie with Michel Through the clouds, when victory, seeming Plasson, conductor, and pianist Nelson Freire. To be forever lost, is a thing we take ♦ April 27, after our seder dinner in the Dining Room we can walk over to the Lounge As fantasy. The scraps though small make to listen to Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah Us understand that dreams take root in deep presented by Evi Levin. Soil. The daily flow of love and hate as well leaves a wake, Please join us for these music presentations A surprising freshness for us to reap, every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Evi Levin, Chair, Hewson Swift Concerts A freshness that goes on and on and never stales. Phil Hefner

APRIL B IRTHDAYS PLAYREADERS layreaders will take place on 4/3 Mildred Brantley P Tuesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the East Room. A play called 4/24 Bernie Greenberg Trifles, by Susan Gaspell, will be read. 4/29 Neva Hefner Anne Zeidman, Chair, Playreaders

4/30 Mary Gauger page 8 APRIL 2016

THE L IBRARY OF C ONGRESS n April 24, 1800, President John Adams million books. In 1968, a large new library was O signed an act moving the nation’s capital built in the vicinity of the National Diet in from Philadelphia to newly-created Washington, Tokyo; eventually another building was DC. Attached to this move was an appropriation constructed, which now has the capacity for 12 of $5,000 to buy books, which were ordered million items. One unusual part of the collection from London. The collection of 740 books and is the first national library of children’s books, three maps was housed in the new capitol, called the International Children’s Library. becoming the nation’s first . I have many happy memories of spending hours During the next 200 years, the Library suffered at the Diet Library doing research. three devastating fires. The first occurred when Kyoko Inoue British troops burned Washington during the War of 1812. Thomas Jefferson then offered to sell his personal collection of 6,487 books collected over a period of 50 years, as the basis for rebuilding the library. Surviving two other fires, the Library has steadily grown.

Today, the Library of Congress, consisting of three large buildings, is the world’s largest MUSIC IN THE E AST R OOM research library, and serves not only Congress, e will celebrate the first month of spring but also researchers from the entire world. Its W with a somewhat diverse set of programs, current holdings include 32 million cataloged including pianists and vocalists, books and other printed matters in 470 languages, and more than 61 million ♦ Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m. Elizabeth manuscripts. It holds the largest rare book Newkirk, pianist, in recital. collection in North America, including a rough ♦ Sunday, April 3, at 7 p.m. piano students of draft of the Declaration of Independence, a Laura Fenster present their spring recital. Gutenberg Bible, and even six Stradivarius ♦ Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. a vocal program violins. by students of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. The Library serves as a legal repository for ♦ Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m. pianists Donna copyright registration, and two copies of every Lee and James Fackenthal return to present a copyrighted book are sent there. Nearly 22,000 program of music by Debussy and Poulenc. new books arrive every business day. Muriel Rogers, Chair, Music Committee

The Library of Congress inspired the establishment of the National Diet Library in Japan. In 1947, barely two years after the end of DRAMA IN THE E AST R OOM World War II, the Japanese government ♦ Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m. dramatist requested the American occupation forces to Martina Mathisen presents a dramatization of send a delegation from the Library of Congress Antonia Fraser’s book Marie Antoinette: The to advise them. The following year, using the Journey . collections of national libraries established ♦ Thursday, April 21, at 2 p.m. ShawChicago during the Meiji era, the Japanese established the presents G. B. Shaw’s The Man of Destiny. National Diet Library in a building owned by the Imperial Household with a collection of 2.05 APRIL 2016 page 9

THE STORY OF H ENRY M EYER , SECOND V IOLINIST OF THE ENCORE C HORALE LASALLE Q UARTET ncore is pleased and excited to n April 29, 1945, the Nazi concentration E come to the Chicago area! Under O camp in Dachau was liberated by the the leadership of well-known Chicago American troops of General Eisenhower. One area choral conductor Jonathan Miller, of the inmates of the camp was the 22-year- Encore is poised to launch several old violinist Henry Meyer, who made a Encore Chorales in the spring of 2016. successful escape after a musician-friendly camp doctor (!) switched Henry’s identity with that of a corpse from the Dachau hospital.

The emaciated Henry headed west in order to reach the advancing American troops, and give himself up. Henry told the American soldier who found him that he was born and raised in Dresden, but had from an early age The Chorale, designed for adults 55 also lived in Prague and Vienna, studying the years and above, and is both violin. The American soldier alerted a friend educational and enjoyable. Anyone is in his army unit who was also from Dresden. welcome; you don’t have to be able to When he started speaking to Henry he said, read music; you don’t have to have a “Oh, so you are the prodigy son of the Meyers trained voice. Participants learn proper who owned that wonderful toy store in breathing techniques and how to Dresden?” improve their voices through correct tone production as the conductor This miraculous incident, which saved guides them through weekly rehearsals Henry’s life, was reported to General in three- and four-part singing. Eisenhower, who took an interest in the young violinist and sent him to his headquarters in The first two Chorales in Chicago will Paris. The Americans provided accom- begin in April, one in Evanston and modations for Henry Meyer, who soon met up one in Hyde Park. Starting April 13, with famous performers of the day. One of the with a 6-week introductory session, the first friends Henry made in Paris was the Hyde Park group practices at violinist Nathan Milstein, who gave Henry Montgomery Place on Wednesdays one of his own violins. from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the East Room. There is a charge of $50 for each I remember that Henry played this same singer, to cover the costs of music, instrument when I met him three years later in professional conductor, and teacher. New York in 1948, and introduced him to Call Lauriann Chutis at 4538 if you Walter, who immediately got him a would like to sign up. scholarship at Juilliard as a member of the LaSalle Quartet! Henry played Milstein’s The group will give a free community violin until the LaSalle Quartet was given a concert on Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m. set of four matched Amati instruments in the at Montgomery Place. early 1950s. Carma Forgie Evi Levin page 10 APRIL 2016

APRIL F ILMS narrated by Peter Coyote. An introduction to the ovie fans will enjoy a variety life and work of legendary singer and songwriter, M of fascinating films presented Woody Guthrie. 1 hour 30 minutes. Presenter to be by our discerning committee arranged. members on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Lounge and on Foreign Language Film: Channel 4. And, of course, popcorn and ♦ April 28, The Diving Bell and lemonade will be served on Mondays. the Butterfly, 2007. Director: Julian MONDAY FILMS: Schnabel. Jean Dominique Bauby, ♦ April 4, The Moon is Blue, 1957. Director: editor of Elle magazine, suffers a Otto Preminger. Starring David Niven, William stroke at age 43. He is alive, but is Holden, Maggy McNamara, Tom Tully. Two almost totally paralyzed except for aging playboys are both after the same attractive the left eye, which will be the way to tell his story. young woman who maintains she will remain a Presenter: Phil Hefner. virgin until her wedding night. The men are Leah Kadden for the Film Committee determined to find ways around that. 1 hour 30 minutes. Presenter, Sheila Elwyn.

♦ April 11, The Eye of the Needle, 1981. Director: Richard Marquand. Starring Donald Sutherland, Kate Nelligan, Stephen Mc Kenna. A German spy carrying information that will reveal the target of Operation Overlord is stranded on an isolated island off the Scottish coast, where passion betrays him. 1 hour 52 minutes. Presenter, Phil Hefner.

♦ April 18, Guys and Dolls, 1955. Director: LEAGUE OF WOMEN V OTERS Joseph Mankiewicz Lyricist and composer: he League of Women Voters will meet on Frank Loesser. Starring Marlon Brando, Jean T Thursday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. in the East Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine. In New Room to discuss Chicago’s recycling York, a group of gamblers setting up a craps program. The mayor instituted a new plan of game makes a bet about who will take a cold, garbage and recycling pick up soon after his female missionary to Havana, using the money to election. There have been changes in his efforts make it happen. 2 hours 30 minutes. Presenter, to make the process fiscally and environmentally Alex Elwyn. sound for the city and the residents. At present the city uses a “single system” format. Residents ♦ April 25, Gorky Park, 1983. Director: do not sort their recycling items, but collect them Michael Apted. Starring William Hurt, Lee as a mixed bunch. They are then taken to a Marvin, Brian Dennehy . A Moscow police reprocessing plant and sorted. Plastic bags are officer finds three bodies and while investigating not to be used. the case stumbles upon a high level political conspiracy within the local government. 2 hours Is the plan working? Are changes needed? Please 8 minutes. Presenter, Evi Levin. join us to evaluate the system. Everyone is welcome. Documentary: Dorothy Scheff, Chair, League of Women Voters ♦ April 7, Woody Guthrie: Ain’t Got No Home, 2006. Director and writer: Peter Frumkin; APRIL 2016 page 11

BOOKLOVERS G ROUP or the April meeting we are discussing the F nonfiction book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Doctors at Johns Hopkins took Henrietta’s cervical cancer cells without asking her, in 1951. Those cells never died; in fact, they are still being used in experiments today. They launched a medical SOCIAL S ECURITY C HECKS revolution and a multimillion-dollar industry. he first American Social Security checks T were distributed on April 27, 1937. More than 20 years later, her children found out. The story tracks the family’s experience as they Some history: In June 1934, President Franklin come to understand what this means to them, and D. Roosevelt, by executive order, created the as they learn to trust the author over 10 years of Committee on Economic Security. The working with her. This New York Times committee was tasked with studying the bestseller tells the story of the collision between problems of economic insecurity, especially ethics, race, and medicine. Dorothy Scheff will among the retired, and making proposals for be our discussion leader. consideration by Congress. Janette Kopacz, Coordinator of the Book Club in The committee made its report in January 1935. a Bag program of the Chicago Public Library has It had several provisions for the general welfare, loaned us 10 copies of this book under Anne such as unemployment insurance and aid to Zeidman’s library card. Also, nine members of dependent children, plus what we think of as our group receive a digital recording of the book Social Security—an insurance program that as part of the Talking Book Program of the would pay retired workers a continuing income library. If you are interested in receiving these after retirement. After hearings, debates and books, or registering for the Talking Book amendments, the renamed Social Security Act Program, call me at 4638. passed both houses of Congress, and the president signed it into law on August 13, 1935. Our meeting to discuss to this book and get the book for May will be on Monday, April 11, at Social Security taxes were collected beginning in 3:30 p.m. in the LLLC. All are welcome. January 1937. Monthly benefits were to begin in Laurieann Chutis 1942, with the period 1937-1942 to be used to build up the trust funds out of which benefits would be paid. Amendments passed in 1939 added coverage for dependents and survivors, and moved up the start of monthly benefits to 1940. (Disability benefits were added in 1954.) IN M EMORIAM

From 1937 to 1940, Social Security paid lump- Beatrice Jefferson sum benefits to people who contributed to the Helen Rice program but not for long enough to be eligible William Dailey for monthly benefits. The first 53,000 of those Fred Metz checks were cut on April 27, 1937, making it a Marjorie Schroeder vital day in American history. Paula Givan page 12 APRIL 2016

THE S ONG THAT S INGS I TSELF Q & A There are really thousands of songs that sing themselves day in and night long, Residents are invited to submit The wolves have a song questions for this column to Box 704 They sing of the earth, of the numerous white stars above of the in-house mailboxes and the big waters all around. Q: My vision is not as good as The white antelope has a song— it used to be. I have trouble It sings of green grasses, of dark forests, of sighs on the reading small print. Is it true wind. that there is a machine in the library to help me? The black bear has a song He sings of blueberries on low bushes, of chokecherries, A: Yes, there is a Magnisight and a huge rock with a cozy den Explorer machine in the He sings with a heart that beats and thunders through northeast corner of the Library, canyons of time. right by the reference books section. The dog has a song— He sings of a friendly fireplace, a pillow for sleeping, There’s a chair to sit on and you a hunt for rabbits in the waking of dawn, can place the desired print Or the cries in the night. (book, magazine, newspaper, correspondence, etc.) on the The fish have a song lower level of the machine. The They sing of waters deep and blue, of red and white machine will illuminate and corals, of seaweeds dark and delicious magnify your material and In the peace before dark. project it onto the screen right in front of your eyes. You can The crickets have a song move the material around and Repetitive and angelic in chorus get larger or smaller print. You A song we love to hear. can adjust the brightness and focus as necessary. And at last, I have a song The poem that, singing, follows me The directions for use are on top Pointing at blue as blue skies, at fields of of the machine, but if you need yellow dandelions, at drifting floating snow help turning it on or a soft and white demonstration of how it works, And yes, at the dirty stinging salt librarians Bill and Dottie Barron under Lexie's feet and mine. will be happy to assist you. Phone them at 4382. These are some of the songs that sing themselves In a Morning Star chorus Please enjoy reading again! And a silvery rain at the edge of Time Barbara Wilson And in the power of the End. Gerry Martin APRIL 2016 page 13

AN E NCOUNTER OF THE WILD peaking of raccoons, and we weren’t, though Dan emphasized that they never had a bit of S one of these handsome fellows was recently trouble with them all those dark winter spotted in our courtyard, I’d like to tell story of a months. Think about it: would you have taken friend of mine. Dan raised his children on a farm five baby raccoons into your house? What? Not near the city. He and his son, Don, and daughter, even if they were just so cute, and the kids Monica, used to walk around their land in the early begged and begged? What if it were your mornings when everything was fresh and green grandchildren begging? and smelling of rich loam. Gerry Martin

One spring as they made their rounds, they saw a rather large raccoon, taking its ease on a low tree ORCHIDS AND I CE limb. The raccoon knew they had spied it, but did am not an orchid maven, but because I am the not take any fright. Later, they saw that the I chair of the Garden Committee, many people raccoon was about to become a mother. Finally think I am. The most-asked question is, shall I one day she showed them her babies. That is a rare water my orchids with ice cubes? privilege in the course of relations between humans and the wild ones. The answer given by Bruce Rogers, author of The Orchid Whisperer, is similar to mine. He The children were enchanted. Every day they says in the jungle where the orchids grow, he has wanted to find the baby raccoons. Have you any never seen an ice idea how really cute baby raccoons are—in a cube on a branch next “bandito” sort of way? The truth is, these were to an orchid. I said, adorable. “in Florida.”

Toward the end of summer one evening, they He says elsewhere in heard a scratching at their back door. When they his book that he is opened it, there was a baby raccoon that clearly amazed by the wanted in. The kids begged and begged, and orchid’s will to live. finally Dan brought in the baby raccoon. As they He states that he has started to make appropriate food and a litter box seen orchids without for it, there was another scratching at the back roots, orchids that door. Sure enough, another baby raccoon! And have never been then a third, and a fourth, and a fifth. Dan became repotted, some wary, but the kids were insistent so he gave in. burned by the sun, and one that survived being left outside for an The following day on their walk, they discovered entire winter. It is a fact that orchids have a will that the mother raccoon had been killed on the to survive and do so no matter how mistreated. highway that bordered their farm. At that point in the story I couldn’t help teasing Dan that the Back to the cube! Your orchid may survive, but mother had instructed her young, “If anything the amount of water that the plant receives from happens to me, that is the door you go to . . .” an ice cube is insufficient, the plant becomes Anyway, as he tells it the five young ones had food dehydrated, and the tissue on which the ice is and litter boxes in a room made over for placed is damaged. There’s even more about them. They behaved all winter, and in the spring being more susceptible to bugs and disease. Love the children tearfully let them go. The now fully- your plant, water by hand. grown young ones went off into the woods, and Marilyn Weigensberg, Chair, Garden Committee were never seen again. page 14 APRIL 2016

SPECIAL E VENTS IN A PRIL

FRIDAY 1 9:00 AM EAST R OOM RUMMAGE S ALE

12:30 PM BUS T RIP CSO B SERIES R IMSKY K ORSAKOV ( P. 3)

7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKER ~ J OHN M EARSHEIMER ( P. 6)

SATURDAY 2 11:00 AM BUS T RIP MET L IVE IN HD, MADAMA B UTTERFLY (P. 3)

SUNDAY 3 2:00 PM EAST R OOM ELIZABETH N EWKIRK , PIANO ( P. 8)

7:00 PM EAST R OOM MTHP L AURA F ENSTER STUDENTS ( P. 8)

TUESDAY 5 11:50 AM BUS T RIP LSTC FOR ORGAN RECITAL ( P. 3)

FRIDAY 8 7:00 PM BUS T RIP MANDEL H ALL FOR A RTEMIS Q UARTET ( P. 3)

7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKER ~ J ASON R IGGLE ( P. 6)

SUNDAY 10 2:00 PM EAST R OOM CHICAGO C OLLEGE OF P ERFORMING A RTS STUDENTS ( P. 8)

WEDNESDAY 13 9:30 AM EAST R OOM ENCORE C HORALE REHEARSAL ( P. 9)

9:45 AM BUS T RIP ART I NSTITUTE ( P. 3)

FRIDAY 15 NOON BUS T RIP MOON P ALACE R ESTAURANT ( P. 3)

7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKER ~ A NDREW L ONG ( P. 6)

SATURDAY 16 11:00 AM BUS T RIP MET L IVE IN HD, ROBERTO D EVEREUX (P. 3)

SUNDAY 17 2:00 PM EAST R OOM MARTINA M ATHISEN DRAMATIZATION ( P. 8)

3:00 PM BUS T RIP SOUTH S HORE C ULTURAL C ENTER W INTER Q UARTET ( P. 3)

WEDNESDAY 20 9:30 AM EAST R OOM ENCORE C HORALE REHEARSAL ( P. 9)

1:00 PM BUS T RIP U OF C S ERVICE L EAGUE ( P. 3)

THURSDAY 21 2:00 PM EAST R OOM SHAW CHICAGO , THE M AN OF D ESTINY ( P. 8)

FRIDAY 22 12:30 PM BUS T RIP CSO WITH M UTI : T CHAIKOVSKY , M AHLER ( P. 3)

7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKER ~ M ARK S WANSON ( P. 6)

SUNDAY 24 2:00 PM BUS T RIP LOGAN C ENTER : P ACIFICA Q UARTET ( P. 3)

2:00 PM EAST R OOM FACKENTHAL P IANO DUO ( P. 8)

TUESDAY 26 11:00 AM BUS T RIP LOOP TRIP ( P. 4)

WEDNESDAY 27 9:30 AM EAST R OOM ENCORE C HORALE REHEARSAL ( P. 9)

4:00 PM DINING R OOM COMMUNITY P ASSOVER S EDER ( P. 4)

FRIDAY 29 7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKER ~ TO BE ANNOUNCED ( P. 6)

SATURDAY 30 11:00 AM BUS T RIP MET L IVE IN HD, ELEKTRA (P. 4) APRIL 2016 page 15

REGULAR E VENTS IN A PRIL

MONDAY 8:00 AM BUS T RIP FITNESS W ALK , M USEUM OF S CIENCE & I NDUSTRY 9:30-10:30 AM THERAPY R OOM WELLNESS C LINIC WITH W ELLNESS S TAFF 11 9:30 AM BUS T RIP ROOSEVELT R OAD S HOPPING 18 9:30 AM BUS T RIP HYDE P ARK P RODUCE 10:15 AM LLLC POETRY G ROUP 11:30 AM EAST R OOM PHYSICAL F ITNESS 1:00 & 1:30 PM BUS T RIP LIBRARY & E RRANDS PLEASE N OTE : 11, 25 2:15 PM LLLC DINING C OMMITTEE Any event 4, 18 3:00 PM EAST R OOM TOWN M EETING listed 11 3:30 PM LLLC BOOKLOVERS G ROUP ( P. 11) without a 4 5:20 PM PRIVATE DR FRENCH S PEAKERS ’ D INNER T ABLE specific date 11 5:20 PM PRIVATE DR GERMAN S PEAKERS ’ D INNER T ABLE or dates 7:00 PM LOUNGE /C H 4 FILM D ISCUSSION G ROUP M OVIE ( P. 10) occurs on TUESDAY 9:30 AM STUDIO PAINTING & D RAWING C LASS that day of 5 10:00 AM LLLC ACTIVITIES C OMMITTEE the week every week. 10:00 - N OON GAME R OOM HYDE P ARK B ANK 11:00 AM EAST R OOM MEDITATION Events listed 12:15 PM EAST R OOM CARPET B OWLING with specific 5, 19 1:00 PM THERAPY R OOM AUDIOLOGIST K ATE H OPKINS dates occur 19 1:00 PM BUS T RIP TRADER J OE ’S on those 26 1:00 – 3:00 PM THERAPY R OOM AUDIOLOGIST D R. L ATA J AIN dates only. 1:30 PM POOL WATER F ITNESS 2:00 PM EAST R OOM CURRENT E VENTS 3:30-5:00 PM CAFÉ & L OUNGE WINE & C HEESE S OCIAL 5 7:00 PM EAST R OOM MONTGOMERY S INGERS S INGALONG 12 7:00 PM EAST R OOM PLAYREADERS ( P. 7) 26 7:00 PM LLLC SHORT S TORY D ISCUSSION G ROUP WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM BUS T RIP FITNESS W ALK , M USEUM OF S CIENCE & I NDUSTRY 9:30 AM LOUNGE TAI C HI 6, 20 10:15 AM GAME R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKERS C OMMITTEE 6 10:30 AM LLLC MONTGOMERY M ESSENGER M EETING 13 10:30 AM LIBRARY LIBRARY C OMMITTEE 11:00 AM CHAPEL MIDWEEK E UCHARIST 11:00 AM CAFE MONTGOMERY M ARKET 11:30 AM EAST R OOM PHYSICAL F ITNESS 1:30-2:30 PM THERAPY R OOM WELLNESS C LINIC WITH W ELLNESS S TAFF 20 3 PM & 6 PM GAME R OOM CAREGIVERS ’ S UPPORT G ROUP 7:00 PM LOUNGE HEWSON S WIFT M USIC S ERIES ( P. 7) page 16 APRIL 2016

THURSDAY 9:30 & 10:00 AM BUS T RIP TREASURE I SLAND

14 9:30 AM STUDIO ART C OMMITTEE

10:00 AM GAME R OOM RESIDENTS ’ S UPPORT G ROUP

10:00 AM LL A DMIN A REA PING P ONG

28 NOON DINING R OOM APRIL R ESIDENTS ’ B IRTHDAY L UNCH

1:30 PM POOL WATER F ITNESS

1:30 PM CAFÉ /L IBRARY COOKIES & C ONVERSATION

28 1:30 PM EAST R OOM LEAGUE OF W OMEN V OTERS ( P. 10)

2:00 PM CHAPEL ROMAN C ATHOLIC C OMMUNION

2:00 PM STUDIO KNITTING & C ROCHETING G ROUP

14 2:30 PM LLLC MAINTENANCE /H OUSEKEEPING C OMMITTEE

7 2:30 PM EAST R OOM FILM D ISCUSSION C OMMITTEE

14 3:00 PM EAST R OOM HAPPY H OUR

4 7:00 PM LOUNGE /C H 4 DOCUMENTARY F ILM ( P. 10)

14, 21 7:00 PM LOUNGE /C H 4 EVENING M OVIE

21 7:00 PM EAST R OOM RESIDENTS ’ C OUNCIL

28 7:00 PM LOUNGE /CH 4 FOREIGN L ANGUAGE F ILM ( P. 10)

FRIDAY 8:00 AM BUS T RIP FITNESS W ALK , M USEUM OF S CIENCE & I NDUSTRY

9:30-10:30 AM THERAPY R OOM WELLNESS C LINIC WITH W ELLNESS S TAFF

10:00 AM LOUNGE /C H 4 DVD S ERIES : G REAT A MERICAN B ESTSELLERS

8 11 AM -3:45 PM THERAPY R OOM PODIATRIST D R. J OANNE D AVIS

11:30 AM EAST R OOM PHYSICAL F ITNESS

1:00-4:00 PM STUDIO OPEN S TUDIO

4:45 PM CHAPEL SHABBAT S ERVICE

7:00 PM EAST R OOM FRIDAY N IGHT S PEAKERS ( P. 6)

SATURDAY 8:45 AM -NOON BUS T RIP KAM-II/R ODFEI Z EDEK T RANSPORTATION

10:00 AM LOUNGE SATURDAY M ORNING R OUNDTABLE

16 2:00 PM LLLC NEW Y ORKER R EADERS ( P. 2)

7:00 PM LOUNGE /C H 4 WEEKEND M OVIE

SUNDAY 8:00 AM -NOON BUS T RIP CHURCH /S YNAGOGUE T RANSPORTATION

10:45 AM -NOON BUS T RIP ROCKEFELLER C HAPEL

11:00 AM CHAPEL SERVICE OF H OLY C OMMUNION

7:00 PM LOUNGE /C H 4 WEEKEND M OVIE /E NCORE P RESENTATION